Who should you be tipping in Round 1 of the AFL season? Our footy experts have put their heads together to help you out. So open your ESPNfootytips app, take notes, and get ahead of the game!

The wait is finally over — footy is back for everyone this weekend, and what a jam-packed Round 1 it promises to be.

It all kicks off at the MCG, where old rivals Richmond and Carlton go head to head. The Blues’ Opening Round result was one to forget and the alarm bells are already ringing, with some questioning whether the game has gone past captain Patrick Cripps. What better way to silence the doubters than knocking off their biggest rivals in front of a packed MCG?

Editor’s Picks

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On Friday night the famous ‘Line in the Sand’ clash returns. But this time, could it be dubbed the ‘Merrett Cup’? Zach Merrett will face the team he so desperately wanted to join just a few months ago. Expect some fire in this one — Hawthorn will be desperate to bounce back, while Essendon will be eager to kick their season off in style.

To finish off Round 1, Gold Coast and West Coast face off. It will be the first look at the Eagles’ future when Harley Reid and Willem Duursma take the field together. But it could also be a harsh ‘welcome to the AFL’ moment for Duursma. After what the Suns did to last year’s grand finalists, what does West Coast’s fate look like on the Gold Coast?

Our experts share all of their wisdom with you to help guide your tipping.

EXPERT TIPS:Jake Michaels

Last week: 2
Season total: 2

Certainty and why: Suns — Yeah, there’s absolutely no chance the Eagles are upsetting the Suns. None.

Upset and why: Dockers — The Cats looked vulnerable in their opener and suffered a blowout loss. Now it’s a date against a side many have tipped for the flag…

Tips for the week:

Carlton vs. Richmond
Essendon vs. Hawthorn
Western Bulldogs vs. GWS
Geelong vs. Fremantle
Sydney vs. Brisbane
Collingwood vs. Adelaide
North Melbourne vs. Port Adelaide
Melbourne vs. St. Kilda
Gold Coast vs. West Coast

Matt Walsh

Last week: 3
Season total: 3

Certainty and why: The last game of the round could get ugly — could the Suns put 200 on the Eagles?

Upset and why: The Dockers have to be winning games like this to be taken seriously, and I think they will.

Tips for the week:

Carlton vs. Richmond
Essendon vs. Hawthorn
Western Bulldogs vs. GWS
Geelong vs. Fremantle
Sydney vs. Brisbane
Collingwood vs. Adelaide
North Melbourne vs. Port Adelaide
Melbourne vs. St. Kilda
Gold Coast vs. West Coast

Jarryd Barca

Last week: 3
Season total: 3

Certainty and why: Gold Coast — needs no explanation, could be an ugly one.

Upset and why: Port definitely looked good during preseason but on the basis of potentially taking a few weeks to settle into a new game plan and system, and North trying to prove they’ve finally turned a corner, I’m gonna back in the Roos.

Tips for the week:

Carlton vs. Richmond
Essendon vs. Hawthorn
Western Bulldogs vs. GWS
Geelong vs. Fremantle
Sydney vs. Brisbane
Collingwood vs. Adelaide
North Melbourne vs. Port Adelaide
Melbourne vs. St. Kilda
Gold Coast vs. West Coast

Who should you be tipping in Round 1 of the AFL season? Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesChristian Joly (Champion Data)

Last week: 2
Season total: 2

Certainty and why: Suns. Will they win by more than 100 points? That’s the only question.

Upset and why: The Crows. These two teams bring out the best in each other, and Adelaide haven’t beaten the Pies here since 2014 and are due for some luck.

Tips for the week:

Carlton vs. Richmond
Essendon vs. Hawthorn
Western Bulldogs vs. GWS
Geelong vs. Fremantle
Sydney vs. Brisbane
Collingwood vs. Adelaide
North Melbourne vs. Port Adelaide
Melbourne vs. St. Kilda
Gold Coast vs. West Coast